Across
from the Custer House area, and on the perimeter of the cavalry parade
grounds stands the "Old Trooper" monument, dedicated in
1961. Based upon a sketch drawn by Frederick Remington in 1898,
the statue is that of a life-size horse and rider. It is constructed of
a chemically treated plastic.
The grave
of "Chief," the last cavalry mount registered to the U.S.
government, lies in the foreground. The bay gelding was foaled in
1932 and entered the cavalry eight years later at Fort Robinson.
He came to Ft. Riley on April 3, 1941, and served with the 9th and 10th
Cavalry units. In 1942 Chief was transferred to the Cavalry School
and was retired in 1953. He died on may 24, 1968, a lingering
symbol of the past.
This
monument honors Major Edmund A. Ogden, who supervised the construction
of Ft. Riley. He was a graduate of West Point (1827). He,
along with seventy other people, died in the cholera epidemic that
swept through Ft. Riley in August, 1855. This, the third
monument dedicated to Ogden the (others destroyed by vandalism and
weather) was placed near the Cavalry Museum in 1923. The horse
statue in the background is presented
below.
This
monument is dedicated to the U.S. soldiers who died at the Wounded
Knee battle. It was dedicated in 1893 and was moved to this
location below the Cavalry Parade Grounds in 1925
Waters
Hall was built 1888 by Mose Waters, the last post sutler.
It became the first PX in 1897, and in the 1930s was converted to
living quarters. Today it serves as quest quarters.
No
need to mention for whom this building was named. Built in
1940 as an academic building. In 1946 it was renamed in honor of
George S. Patton, Jr. who had at one time served at the school.
Old
Post Hospital
The
Cavalry Museum's south wing was built in 1855 and originally was the
post hospital. The flat limestone identifies it as one of the
four surviving buildings from the post's original construction.
The building was renovated and a clock tower added in 1890, when it
became the Cavalry School Administration building.. In
1957 the building became the home of the Cavalry Museum,
containing many unique exhibits and an interesting film from 1912
showing cavalry officers going through an obstacle course. The
officers and horses were pushed to the limit, and very few made it
through without a spill.
This
is only a brief glimpse of the historic buildings and monuments of
Ft. Riley. As one moves among the various historic structures,
you become awed at the greatness and depth of the history of
the U.S. Cavalry and the present U.S. Army. This post is a
"must see" along the Custer trail through Kansas. If
you want to see everything, ask about a guided tour or go it alone
and plan to devote two days to see the entire base.
Due
to very tight security, you must have a picture ID and proof of
registration and insurance for a motor vehicle in order to enter the
post.
And...the
day that I visited Ft. Riley they held a parade in my honor...(just
kidding). But there was a parade practice in progress.
Skeleton
formation during practice
Pass
in review...and guess what tune the band is playing...GARRYOWEN, of
course
Then
at the end of the ceremony the officer in charge announced that
"in the spirit of the old cavalry we will conclude the ceremony
with a cavalry charge." The bugler sounds the
"charge" and the mounted honor guard gallops their mounts,
hell bent for leather, across the full length of the parade
ground. The ground literally vibrates to the thundering hooves
of the horses. The color guard seems to have almost as
much fun as the horses, who seem to have been waiting all day to
race across the field. It was at this point that I regretted
not having a movie camera.
